Photographic roller-blind shutter.



PATENTIED FEB. 17, 1903.

; 'A. L. ADAMS. PHOTOGRAPHIG ROLLER BLIND SHUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED 001KB, 1902.

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PATENTED FEB. 17, 1903-.

A. L. ADAMS. PHOTOGRAPHIG ROLLER BLIND SHUTTER.

. APPLIUATIQN FILED OUT. 6, 1902,.

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ARTHUR LEWIS ADAMS,

OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

PHOTOGRAPHIC ROLLER-BLIND SHUTTEF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 720,991, dated February17, 1903. Application filed October 6,1902. Serial No. 126,240. (Nomodel.)

To all whom at may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR Lnwls ADAMS, manufacturer of photographicapparatus, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 26Oharing Cross road, London, England, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in or Relating to Photographic Roller-BlindShutters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to focal plane or other roller-blind shutters forphotographic purposes of the character in which the size of the apertureor slot in the blind can, when desired, be adjusted (increased ordiminished) from the exterior of the camera or shutter case-that is,without having to obtain access to the interior of said shutter orcamera fitted therewith, as heretofore.

My present invention comprises a photographic roller-blind sh utter inwhich the blind employed is in two parts, one such blind part beingattached to a roller to one side of the aperture through which theexposure is to be given, the other blind part being attached to aspring-actuated roller at the opposite side of said aperture andparallel to the first-named roller, adjusting-tapes or flexibleconnections connecting the free ends of said two blind parts at varyingdistances apart by passing one end of said tapes or flexible connectionsfreely through one blind part and attaching same to the free end of theother blind part, while the opposite ends of said tapes or flexibleconnections are attached to a third roller located proximate to anddetachably geared such tape-regulating roller and its proximateblind-roller, to which it is geared, as aforesaid, normally revolvetogether, and means to temporarily place said tape-roller out of gearwith its proximate blind-roller, and means to revolve said tape-rollerwhen so detached independently of its proximate blindroller, or viceversa, and means to retain the said spring blind-roller when the shutteris set, and comprising other features and details,as fully describedhereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is front viewinelevation, partly in section, of a roller-blind shutter embodying mypresent invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view on line 22, Fig. 1, look-.

ing in the direction of the arrow 1. Fig. 3 is an end view in elevationlooking in the direction of the arrow 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a local viewof a slightly-modified arrangement, as hereinafter described. Fig. 5 isfront view in elevation showing another modification; and Fig. 6 is avertical cross-sectional View on line 6 6, Fig. 5, lookingin thedirection of the arrow 5, Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the roller-blind, of any suitable flexiblelight-tight material, is formed in two parts A and B, as shown in thedrawings, of the same or different lengths, one end of the part A beingattached to and adapted tobe wound on a roller (1, located to one sideof the aperture across which the blind is drawn or to be drawn, one endof the other part B being attached to and adapted to be wound on aspring-roller I), located on the opposite side of said aperture andparallel to the roller a. This roller Z) is provided with any suitablemotor, (not shown,) such as a coiled or other suitable spring, in theinterior of or exterior of said roller 1), the strength of such springor motor being adapted to be regulated by any suitable meanssuch, forinstance, as the milled head b-on the exterior of the shutter-case andthe spring-pawl c on the arm 0, pivoted at c and provided with a spring0 acting against the fixed pin 0 whereby the tension of the spring inthe roller 1) can be increased by rotating said milled head b, orreduced when desired by disengaging the spring-catch c c and releasingthe spring acting on the roller 1).

By the side of and parallel to the roller 1) is a roller 61 foradjusting the width of the aperture between the blind parts A and B,this roller d consisting of an outer part cl and an inner shaft LP.

The outer roller 01 is geared at one or both of its ends by the toothedwheels b 01 to the roller 1),. The inner shaft d is adapted to bedetached from the outer part or outer roller d by means adapted to beoperated from the exterior of the camera or shutter case. For instance,this may be accomplished in the manner illustrated by way of example inthe drawings, namely:

The outer roller d besides having the gearwheel d attached thereto hasalso affixed thereto the disk d provided with a concentric ring ofpin-holes 01 therein. The inner shaft (1 has fixed on the outer endthereof the disk 01, which latter is provided with the inwardlyprojecting pin or crank pin (i adapted to lock or engage with any of theholes d in the disk 61 and normally kept pressed into engagementtherewith by means of the spring 61 on the inner shaft (1 which spring61 tends to keep the inner shaft d normally pressed in the direction ofthe arrow 3.

The inner shaft d is capable of slight longitudi nal movement throughand with respect to the outer roller d, or vice versa, and any suitablemeans may be provided for imparting said longitudinal movement to theinner shaft 61 and for rotating the latter, together with the outerroller 01, when the complete roller d is disengaged from the blindroller 19. For instance, a knob or handle, such as (1 may be fixed onthe end of the shaft d so that when such roller d has been disconnectedfrom the roller b-namely, by means of the inner shaft (1 disconnectingthe roller (1 from the gear-wheel d -thereby the roller d can then fromthe exterior of the camera be made to rotate, as desired, independentlyof the roller 1). To this roller one end of each of the tapes as isattached, and from this roller (1 each tape a: after passing around aguideroller y, Fig.2, passes up to and freely through the eye or slot Aprovided, if desired, with an antifriction-roller or the like, in theedge A of the blind part A, and thence each said tape 00 is led to andpermanently attached to the edge B of the blind part B. Thus it willreadily be seen that when the roller 01 has been, by the gear-wheel dgeared to the roller b consequently the distance between the edges A andB of thetwo blind parts A and B become fixed. To alter the width of theshutter-slit-that is, to alter the distance apart of the edges A andBthe inner shaft (1 has tobe moved longitudinally through the outer partd of the roller (1, so as to permit this roller (1 to be rotatedindependently of the roller 1), and thereby the tapes as may be wound onor wound off said roller d, and thus diminish or increase the width ofshutter-slit to the desired degree, whereupon the rollers d and b aregeared together again, and such width of shutter-slit will then bemaintained until again adjusted, and so on. It will thus be seen thatnotapes or flexible connections from the roller a are used. V

After the width of the shutter has been adjusted, as aforesaid, to thedesired extent the shutter may be set in the usual manner of settingsuch shutters or in any suitable manner. For instance, the roller a maybe revolved by means of the winding-key e, fixed to the gear-wheel e,gearing with the toothed wheel a on the roller (1 until the blind partA, attached to it, is wound upon it and as much of the connections ortapes a: between the two blind parts A and B as is necessary, anysuitable catch being provided to retain the shutter in position whenthus set.

The shutter is released by any suitable releasing-catch or releasingdevice.

When the shutter is released, the width of aperture will be maintainedor sufficiently maintained as the blind is drawn across to give theexposure.

The shutter, as above described,is arranged with the winding-roller a,at the top and the spring-roller b and adj Listing-roller d at thebottom of the case; but it can be arranged vice versa or right to leftor left to right-t'. 6., sidewise-if desired.

In Fig. 4 is shown a slight modification of the arrangement shown inFig. 2-namely, the roller dis arranged above and nearly vertically overthe roller 1) and instead of toothed wheels b and d on said rollers band d gearing with one another direct, as in Figs. 1 and 2, anintermediate toothed wheel I) is introduced, which gears with saidtoothed wheels d and b so that the rollers 17 and d are rotated in thesame direction.

Instead of arranging the rollers as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 I may carrymy present invention into practice, as hereinafterdescribed withreference to Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings hereunto annexed.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the upper blind part A is attached to a toproller a, and a parallel spring-roller b is arranged at the bottom, towhich is attached the lower blind part B, the upper blind part A beingwound upon the top roller a when the shutter is set and may or may notbe partly wound upon the bottom roller b when the shutter has beenreleased,

after having been set or wound up. The 1 third roller (1 is placed atthe top adjacent to the top roller a instead of being placed at thebottom near the roller 1), as in Figs. 1 and 2, and I place in or attachto one or both of these top rollers a or d a motor or coiled springforinstance, in the arrangement illustrated, as the roller d consists onlyof a solid shaft (1 with drums d on the ends thereof for winding thetapes on the latter. Therefore the motor is in this case arranged in theroller (1,, or I may, if preferred, place the motor in or upon theroller (1; but in either case the bottom roller Z) must contain a morepowerful motor or spring than either of the'top rollers 01, or d,jointly or combined, in this arrangement.

The two rollers a and d are geared together and are adapted to bedisconnected in the same or similar or equivalent manner to thatdescribed with reference to rollers?) and din Figs. 1 to 3. The tapes orconnections m, which are attached at one end to the drums (1 carried onthe roller (1, or otherwise suitably attached to the roller d, are ledfrom the latter over the guiding-roller y down to and pass freelythrough eyes or pulleys or equivalent in or on the top edge B of thelower blind part B and from the latter pass up to and are permanentlyattached to the lower edge A of the upper blind part A.

The shutter may be set by winding the top rollers up by any suitablemeans, such as the milled head f, Fig. 5, attached to the largegear-wheel f gearing with a small gear-wheel f on the roller (1, whichlatter also carries thereon the gear-wheel c which in turn gears withthe gear-wheel g, attached to the roller a, so that by rotating themilled head f thereby the two rollers a and d are simultaneously andcorrespondingly revolved, while'by disconnecting the gear-wheels g andg, which can be done by sliding the nut with milled head h along theshaft d toward the fixed head (Z on the shaft 61, thereby the tapes mcan be let out or taken np-z'. e., wound off or wound on the drums d andthereby the width of the slit between the edges A and B can be varied asdesired, and thereupon the toothed wheels g and g are placed in gearagain and the blind is set and operated with such width of silt until itis again desired to adjust and alter same. Having set the shutter'i. e.,wound the shutter ready for giving an exposure by winding the toprollers, as aforesaid, or by unwinding the bottom roller 1) by turningthe latter direct from the outside or by any system of gearing, the

same is held and retained in the set position by any suitable catch andreleased by any suitable means, as aforesaid.

When the shutter is set, by rotating the lower roller 1) from theoutside, as aforesaid, the spring in either or both of the top rollers a(1 will be sufliclent to wind thereon the upper blind part A and tapes,&c., and to raise the bottom blind part B, and in order to prevent thestronger spring-11 8., in the bottom rollerovercoming the weaker springor springs in either or both of the top rollers a and cl I may employ aratchet-wheel thereon or its equivalent'or provide a catch, as is atpresent done with the top or driven roller of existing shutters. Thuswhen the shutter is set by revolving the roller b as far as it can berevolved the blind part B, attached to it, will be drawn fully acrossthe aperture between the top and bottom rollers and will remain there aslong as the pawl or catch is in the ratchet-wheel or its equivalent.Either of the top rollers a and d can then be rotated, as hereinbeforedescribed, for adjusting the width of the slit, and the shutter may bereleased in any suitable manner.

I may set or wind the shutter from the top instead of the bottom, ifdesired.

The operation with the arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is as follows:The shutter is first set as aforesaid, and then the width of slit oraperture between the blind parts A and B can be varied as desired. Itthe bottom roller 1) and its blind partB were not secured after havingdrawn it across the aperture between the bottom and the top rollers, itwould tend to run back again and would alter its position according tothe width of the slit and as the latter was altered, and this would makeit necessary to rewind or reset the shutter after the width of slit hasbeen adjusted, and, furthermore, the speed-indicator could not be sosuitably arranged. It would also limit the extent to which the width ofthe slit can be varied after the blind had been set, because the tapecould not freely pass through the eye or pulley when the free edge B ofthe bottom blind part B began to revolve around its roller 1). Mypresent invention overcomes these disadvantages and permits me to make amore useful shutter than heretofore.

I may employ any suitable means (not shown) for preventing theoverwinding of any of the rollers when and where necessary. Forinstance, when the blind part B has been wound off the roller b I mayprevent any further rotation of the roller 1) than is necessary, and forthis purpose there may be employed on or in connection with saidroller 1) a snail action or screw-thread, or a spiral may be ar-.

ranged at one or more ends of any of the rollers, while a pin or fixedstop is provided against which same will come when the blind part B hasbeen sufficiently unwound, or a flat spring or other spring-arm may bemounted on the roller 1) in such position and in such wise that when theblind part B is wound upon its roller 1) such blind part will thereuponpress the spring or spring-arm out of the way of a fixed stop (notshown) on the frame, and thus permit the roller 17 to freely rotate ineither direction, while such spring or spring-arm remains compressedunder the blind part B, while uponwinding the latter 0E its roller 11 itwill ultimately release said spring or spring-arm, and thereupon thelatter will spring out into position to engage for efiecting my purpose.

Any suitable means may be employed to indicate the size of the slit orthe speed at which the shutter has been set. For instance,

I may put markings on the tapes, Visible through non-actinic coloredglass, or I may employ an indicator operated by one or other of therollers a or I) or d. For instance, a small toothed Wheel at the end ofone of the rollers may engage with a larger toothed wheel provided withsuitable markings adapted to be seen from theexterior of the case, orthis last-named wheel may carry an arm or index-finger or pointer movingover any suitable scale or index adjacent thereto; also, if desired,means may be provided to adjust the strength of the spring orsprings inthe springposure-regulating roller adjacent said spring- If desired,this invention can be carried out 3 in a camera or, as illustrated inthe drawings,in a separate shutter or shutter-case, and

by this latter arrangement the various rollers Y can be mounted quiteclose to the aperture or 1 opening across which the blind is to be drawna to give the exposure.

The following advantages are obtained by; roller-blind shutters arrangedand constructed as hereinbefore set forth, according to the presentinvention, viz:

(a) Same avoids the necessityof closing the lens or covering up thesensitive surface in the camera in the event of its being desired toregulate-4. e., alterthe width of slit after the sensitive surface hasbeen uncovered in the camera ready for giving the exposure.

(b) Same avoids the necessity of winding the blind to mid-position (asheretofore necessary) to enable regulation to be efiected.

(:3) Same avoids the necessity of second winding to finally set or resetthe shutter, as heretofore necessary, after regulation has beeneffected.

((1) Same enables great width of slit to be 1 obtained, the extremewidth of slit in said j shutters as hitherto constructed being limitedto about the extent of the exposure-aperture, whereas greater width canbe obtained by the present invention, thus enabling greater 1 separateblinds carried thereby, one of said range of speeds to be obtained.

(6) The arrangement with the tape-roller at 1 the top has the furtheradvantage that it enables the size of slit to be regulated after theshutter has been set and without requiring any resetting afterregulation.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters ingbetween said regulating-roller and its ad- Patentof the United States, is

1. In a focal-plane shutter, the combination with the top and bottomblind-rollers and separate blinds carried thereby, one of said. rollersbeing spring-actuated; of an exposure regulating roller adjacent saidspring-actuated blind-roller; tapes adjustably connecting the free endsof said blinds and secured to said regulating-roller; means for normallyrotating said regulating-roller and its adjacent blind-roller inopposite directions; means for independently rotating saidregulatingroller and cooperating with said spring-actuated blind-rollerand tapes for rotating said regulating-roller and its adjacentblind-roller in the same direction for adjusting the space between theends of said blinds; and setting and releasing mechanism.

2. In a focal-plane shutter, the combination with the top and bottomblind-rollers and separate blinds carried thereby, one of saidblind-rollers being spring-actuated of an exwith said first gear-wheel;means for disengaging said detachable gear-wheel and saidregulating-roller, for independently rotating said regulating-roller,and cooperating with said spring-actuated blind-roller and tapes forrotating said regulating-roller and its adjacent blind-roller in thesame direction; and setting and releasing mechanism.

3. In a focal-plane shutter, the combination with the top and bottomblind-rollers and separate blinds carried thereby; of anexposure-regulating roller mounted adjacent one of said blindrollers andgeared thereto for normally rotating said regulating-roller and itsadjacent blind -roller in opposite directions flexible means connectingthe free ends of said blinds and secured to said regulatingroller; meansfor winding said blinds under spring tension; means for locking andreleasing same; and means connected to said regulating-roller andcooperatingwith said sprlngtension means, and tapes for rotating saidregulating-roller and its adjacent blind-roller in the same direction,independent of said other blind-roller, for regulating the space betweenthe free ends of said blinds.

4. In a focal-plane shutter, the combination with the top and bottomblind-rollers and blind-rollers being spring-actuated of anexposure-regulating roller adjacent said springactuated blind-roller;flexible means connecting the free ends of said blinds and secured tosaid regulating-roller; means for winding said blinds under springtension; means for locking and releasing same; detachable gearjacentspring-actuated blind-roller for normally rotating same in oppositedirections; andmeans connected to said regulating-roller for disengagingsame from said spring-actuated blind-roller and codperating therewithand with said flexible means, for rotating said regulating-roller andits adjacent blindroller in the same direction.

5. In a focal-plane shutter, the combination with the top and bottomblind-rollers and separate blinds carried thereby, provided at theirfree ends with stiffening-plates having slots therethrough, one of saidblind-rollers being spring-actuated; of an exposure-regulating rolleradjacent said spring-actuated blind-roller; flexible means secured toboth sides of the free end of the blind of said spring-actuated roller,reeving through the slots in the free end of said other blind andsecured at their free ends to said regulatingroller.

6. In a focal-plane shutter, the combination with a suitable supportprovided with an exposure-opening; of parallel blind-rollers locatedabove and below said exposure-opening, carrying separate blinds thereon;an exposure-regulating roller adjacent one of said blind-rollers andnormally in gear therewith for rotating said rollers in oppositedirections; tapes adjust-ably connecting the free ends of said blindsand secured to said regulating-roller; means for throwing saidregulating-roller and its adjacent blind-roller out of gear andindependently rotating said regulating-roller to wind or unwind saidtapes; means cooperating with said tapeslfor rotating said adjacentblind-roller in the same direction of rotation as said regulating-rollerwhen detached therefrom for correspondingly winding or unwinding theblind thereon; a spring operating one of said blind-rollers; means forretaining said spring blind-roller when the shutter is set; and meansfor releasing the shutter.

7. In afocal-plane shutter, the combination with a suitable supportprovided with an exposure-opening; of parallel blind-rollers locatedabove and below said exposure-opening, carrying separate blinds thereon;an exposure-regulating roller adjacent one of said blind-rollers andnormally in gear therewith for rotating said rollers in oppositedirections; tapes adjustably connecting the free ends of said blinds andsecured to said regulatingroller; means for throwing saidregulatingroller and its adjacent blind-roller out of gear andindependently rotating said regulatingroller to wind or unwind saidtapes; means cooperating with said tapes for rotating said adjacentblind-roller in the same direction of rotation as said regulating-rollerwhen detached therefrom for correspondingly winding or unwinding theblind thereon; a springmotor actuating said regulating roller; aspring-motor actuating one of said blind-rollers of sufficient strengthto overcome the spring-actuated regulating-roller; and setting andreleasing mechanism.

8. In a focal-plane shutter, the combination with a suitable support andan exposureopening; of the top and bottom blind-rollers journaledtherein and provided with separate blinds; adjustable flexibleconnections between the free ends of said blinds; means for drawing andretaining said lower blind in front of said exposure-opening for settingthe shutter; means cooperating with said flexible connections foradjusting the space between the free ends of said blinds while saidshutter is set and said lower blind held stationary before theexposure-opening; and means for releasing said shutter.

9. In a focal-plane shutter, the combination with the top and bottomblind-rollers and separate blinds carried thereby; of anexposure-regulating roller adjacent said top blindroller; tapesadjustably connecting the free ends of said blinds and secured to saidregulating-roller; means for normally rotating said regulating-rollerand top blind-roller in opposite directions; means cooperating with saidtapes for rotating said regulating-roller and top blind-roller in thesame direction for adjusting the space between the free ends of saidblinds; and setting and releasing mech anism.

10. In focal-plane or other roller-blind shutters for photographicpurposes having the blind in two parts and aspring-actuated roller belowthe exposure -aperture and adapted to wind one part of the blind thereonand a parallel roller above the said aperture adapted to wind the otherpart of the blind thereon-the arrangement and combination therewith of aroller 01 located above the exposureaperture adjacent to and detachablygeared to the blind-roller above the eXposure-aperture,a

springin the said top blind-roller of less power than the spring in theaforesaid spring-actuated lower roller so that the latter when releasedwill overcome the spring top roller and tapes or flexible connections 50attached to said

